SALINA, Kan. (AP) A preliminary hearing to determine if there’s enough evidence to try a man in the death of a Salina woman is set for Aug. 1. KSAL-AM reports that Joel Heil, 24, appeared via closed-circuit video Thursday morning in Saline County District Court. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kristin Tyler, 27. The mother of four was missing two weeks before her body was found May 9 in a ravine off Interstate 135 in rural Saline County. The preliminary hearing was scheduled for August to give Heil’s attorney, Julie Effenbeck, time to gather information about…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Senate approved a bill that would rescind state restrictions on land use near state or national historic sites. Supporters say the state’s involvement in developments near historic sites infringe on private property rights. Proponents say the current system allows preservation officers to investigate a project’s impact on the historic site, although local or state governments can overrule their recommendations. The Senate approved the bill Wednesday and it now goes back to the House for a vote. The Wichita Eagle reports the bill repeals state restrictions on the development or renovation of buildings within 500 feet…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) Although a federal judge has approved a consent decree involving the cleanup at the former Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, cleanup at the site is still years away. The Salina Journal reported Wednesday that the judge approved the joint settlement agreement between Salina authorities and the federal government. The approval is another step in an 18-year conflict over the cost of cleaning up contaminated groundwater and soil at a former Air Force base. The decree essentially starts the process of making a plan for the environmental cleanup of a plume of pollution that is moving toward…
LYONS, Kan. (AP) A central Kansas man has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a child. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Wednesday that Jeffrey S. Redding, 34, of Lyons was sentenced to 210 months in prison for rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He pleaded no contest to the charges in February. Redding also will have to register as a sex offender for life, and have lifetime post-release supervision and electronic monitoring. The Hutchinson News reports Rice County District Court records indicate the crimes occurred in May 2010. Other…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Brown v. Board of Education National Historic site in Topeka will display a black doll used in a series of famous race studies to mark the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The case that toppled segregated education was decided 59 years ago Friday. In the 1940s and 1950s, psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark presented children with a black doll and a white doll as part of social science experiments. The married black couple then asked the children which doll was the nicest, smartest and prettiest. Most chose the white doll. The Clarks testified about…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House and Senate negotiators are preparing to go back to work on a new state budget with hopes of bringing the legislative session to a close. Negotiators met briefly on Wednesday and scheduled more talks for Thursday afternoon. Differences remain over funding for higher education and how to spend the savings from the state’s adoption of a new Medicaid system. Talks on the roughly $14.5 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 have been slow to gain momentum since lawmakers returned May 8 from a monthlong break. The budget bill also includes a…
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One popular topic that seems to be on every county and city commission agenda lately is growth. This was also brought up during Thursday’s Joint Manhattan City/Pottawatomie County/Riley County commission meeting, held at City Hall. The Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan was the first item up for discussion. Director of Community Development, Karen Davis led the discussion by providing informion on the reasons this topic was brought forward. The growth with Fort Riley and Kansas State University were two major reasons. Davis mentioned the board has discussed a late summer/early fall selection time. Mayor Pro Tem, Wynn Butler recommended utilizing…
Forecasters say the tornado that claimed six lives and destroyed dozens of homes in North Texas is believed to have had winds up to 200 mph.
President Barack Obama dismissed the idea of a special prosecutor to investigate the Internal Revenue Service Thursday, saying probes by Congress and the Justice Department should be sufficient.